Katie A. Chargualaf, Dean
Welcome from the Dean
Welcome students, alumni, and community partners to the School of Nursing at USCA. Part of the University of South Carolina system, our beautiful campus is in historic Aiken, SC. Although more than 3500 students attend our university, we are proud of the close-knit community created by small class sizes and personalized attention afforded to every student. USCA is rated as one of the top 50 regional universities in the South according to U.S. News & World Report and in the top 25 colleges for Veterans.
The School of Nursing at USCA has a rich history. The Division of Nursing was established in 1971 to offer the associate degree in technical nursing and graduated its first class in May 1973. In 1985, the University received approval from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education to grant the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing to registered nurse students who held an associate degree or diploma in nursing (RN-BSN program). As a result of a university-wide reorganization of academic programs, the Division of Nursing became the School of Nursing in 1986. The School of Nursing received approval to offer the baccalaureate degree in nursing to traditional students beginning fall 2000. The associate degree program closed in December 2005. Both programs continue today with more than 300 BSN and RN-BSN students enrolled and more than 3700 alumni. Identified as a College of Distinction, our nursing program is ranked within the top 3 in South Carolina across different ranking organizations.
The esteemed faculty are committed to preparing the next generation of nurses capable of providing quality, evidence-based care to individuals, families, and communities locally, nationally, and globally. To achieve this, we maintain a state-of-the-art simulation lab and collaborate with local and state partners to maximize learning opportunities. First-time NCLEX pass rates for our BSN graduates consistently exceed those reported in South Carolina and across the United States. This means that our graduates are highly sought after by agencies around South Carolina, Georgia, and nationally.
Thank you for your interest in USCA’s School of Nursing. Our graduates are positively impacting health outcomes in South Carolina and worldwide. You can be a part of the USCA School of Nursing legacy. I invite you to browse the website for an overview of our nursing programs and schedule a visit to our campus. Make sure to follow us on social media, too. Go Pacers!
Katie A. Chargualaf PhD, RN, CMSRN, CNE, FAAN
Dean, School of Nursing
Contact Us
Application to the School of Nursing
You must first apply for admission to the university, and then apply to the SON. To access the application, you will login as a 'Returning User,' not a 'First Time User.' Use the same email address and password you used to apply for admission to the university. If you do not remember the email you used, call the Admissions Office at 803-641-3366 and they can assist you.